Fuel proves that it’s not an impossible task to find somewhere central where you can afford both the entry fee and drinks.

The Venue
Situated in Covent Garden Piazza, Fuel is open until 4am and is free to get into before 9pm (and only £5 afterwards), which are unusual features for a bar in the area.

This place is huge, made up of a cave-like basement, a spacious first floor area, and one of the larger terraces on the market. It can sometimes feel a little strange queuing outside some of the central hotspots when they’re built on top of somewhere you associate with daytime shopping trips, but as soon as you step inside Fuel you almost forget where you are.

The Atmosphere
Fuel is full of after work drinkers, people on big nights out in London, and tourists, so it has an eclectic vibe. This is very much down to the mix of music being played – expect RnB and hip hop tunes and old classics. In fact, expect to dance to songs that you forgot even existed.

Although sometimes packed, its size helps distribute the crowds so you never feel uncomfortable. However, because of this – and the fact you can’t get reception in the basement – you can lose the people you came with and, understandably, this can effect your mood.

The Food
Fuel serves a pretty basic European menu – bar snacks are available from 6.30pm-1am and main meals are served all day. Starters are around a fiver and include a range of breads, soups and salads. If you’re ordering a main meal, expect to choose from either pizza or pasta. Desserts are also pretty standard – think apple tarts and creme caramels – but for the more adventurous of you, there’s quite a large chocolate brownie sandwich. The menu isn’t overly exciting, but the portions are a decent size and you have to remember this place is essentially an all-in-one bar with a dancefloor and restaurant.

The Drink
Standing out from other bars in the area, Fuel has reasonably priced drinks. It’s refreshing to pick up the cocktail menu and find that, before 9pm, you can get a cocktail with a 50ml measure of alcohol for £3.25 (after 9pm they’re still a reasonable £5.50).

As with the food menu, the cocktail list is pretty standard and includes your classic Sex on the Beach, Mai Tai and Long Island Iced Tea. For those looking for something a little different, however, there is always the option of freestyling and asking the bar staff to create you a cocktail – this is even given as an option on the menu.

The Last Word
If you’re stuck in Central London and have a restricted budget, you could find far worse places than Fuel to spend a night.

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