88 Gracechurch Street,
Leadenhall Market,
London,
EC3V 0DN
(020) 7626 3625
The ViewLondon Review
New Moon blends in with the uniform red facades of Leadenhall Market; however, cut through the surface and the belly of the bar is rife with life and soul.
The Venue
Preconceptions about what’s behind the regal red facades on show in Leadenhall Market are easy to make, and in some cases you get exactly what you expect. However, the New Moon bucks the traditional trend ever so slightly adding contemporary touches here and there to freshen things up.
The wooden interior is laden with high barrels that seem to work in place of tables, this means standing is enforced with almost a zero chair policy. In addition to the rather impressive wooden bookshelf that holds the majority of the spirits along the lengthy narrow bar, modern artwork adorns the walls.
The Atmosphere
The first building into the covered market of Leadenhall, the New Moon is the first choice for bankers and wanderers. Its immediacy to the street itself means the windows receive a more generous amount of sunlight than the rest of the undercover boozers.
The mix here is an uneven one and suits outweigh tourists and loafers by at least two to one. It’s very much a break time and after work destination that fills with workers steadily throughout the day until the evening sees vast numbers spilling into market passageways and gathering around vast decorative barrels. Weekends betray barely a peep as the area shuts down and waits for Monday’s daybreak so it’s best to give it a go during the week.
The Food
The menu features standard pub fare with a selection of classics like sausage and mash or burgers and sandwiches. The prices are high and you can expect to pay £9 for a shepherd's or fisherman's pie.
The Drink
The drinks menu at the New Moon isn’t bad considering the pub’s mass appeal and it has a few rarities tucked away. You can enjoy a bottle of Bordeaux for about £15 while watching gents having their shoes shined and there’s a good Chilean red for the same price. Beers on tap include Stella, Carling, Fosters, Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen.
The Last Word
The New Moon is one of the larger venues in Leadenhall Market and exploits its location well. It lacks the historical feel of some of the other pubs on the parade but makes up for it with a heavy after work scene.
New Moon has been reviewed by 2 users