With hard times ahead and the credit crunch biting, people are turning ever more to the cheaper option of going to the cinema at the weekend. Luckily, you don’t have to give up your nights out as Roxy Bar and Screen lets you combine cheap food and drink with the big screen in this attractive, well thought out venue.

The Venue
Roxy Bar and Screen is handily located a 5 minute walk from Borough Tube station, up Borough High Street. Keep an eye out for the attractive glass door with Roxy emblazoned across it. Pushing through here you’ll immediately spy a set of stairs leading down to the toilet area, and past a second door to the left is the bar.

Initially, you’ll see a few tables lining a quite narrow space running the length of the long bar. Attractive red lamps hang down at regular intervals and the red walls emit a cosy feel. The bar gleams with a plethora of spirit bottles and a few draught beers. However, the pierce de resistance is just past the bar, where the space opens up into a huge area filled with tables around the outer edge and large sofas towards the furthest wall, all pointed towards the big screen. And it really is big – a 4 metre cinema style screen. The decor in here is very warming, reminiscent of a traditional 1950s cinema. Heavy red velvet drapes cover the walls and the sofas are a mix of red and brown chesterfields and brown leather sofas for two and three people. Some are a little battered around the edges, but it has a charm that’s hard not to fall for. These sofas are dangerously comfortable and it’s easy to sink into them and lose track of an entire evening.

Large circular lights set into the ceiling and a few lamps scattered around provide enough light without being too glaring, and these are dimmed to darkness when the screen shows the sport or films, with just candlelight provided. The mismatched wooden tables and chairs and the sporadic positioning of furniture works well to provide a venue that is as charming as it is entertaining. Best of all, the screen isn’t just for effect. The sound system is incredible and the quality of the image crystal clear.

The Atmosphere
Roxy Bar and Screen really excels with its atmosphere. There are a range of nights held here offering a variety of entertainment. They show sporting events including England football games, Champions League games and big Premiership games, pulling in a decent crowd of regulars and people who have travelled to catch the game on the massive screen. It’s so impressive that you’ll almost feel you’re in the stadium. Other nights include tasting evenings for food and wine in conjunction with foreign and independent films as well as screenings for big movies like Mama Mia and The Dark Night. With just a £3 cover charge on average (and no fee to watch sport and some of the foreign films) it’s an incredible bargain that sees young locals flocking to the bar. Lunchtimes are also inventive, for just £7 you can have lunch and catch an episode of such favourite shows as The Office, Frasier or Blackadder.

The staff are also worth a mention. With plenty of young, attractive guys and girls offering table service by the screen, you’ll feel really well looked after, which is excellent service given how low the prices of food and drink is here. There are always plenty of people available to serve and the queues at the bar are minimal even on busy nights. This is a great place to visit on a Sunday if you want to chill out and socialise whilst being as comfortable as you’d feel in your own living room.

The Food
The food at Roxy Bar and Screen is cheap but of surprisingly good quality. They offer lunch and dinner and a popular Sunday Roast. The menu is made up of tapas dishes, costing between £2.50-£3.95 per dish, with a recommendation that you have 2-3 dishes each for a snack or 3-4 each for a meal, which works out very cheap.

Highly recommended is Bakaliaros (cod fillet baked with cheese and mustard), which comes as a well cooked, fresh piece of fish that flakes pleasantly at the touch of a fork in a creamy, rich sauce. Alternatively, the Stifado (chicken in tomato and onion sauce) tastes more authentically Greek with a delicately spicy sauce covering the tender chunks of chicken. The Saganaki (prawns and peppers in tomato sauce grilled with feta cheese and oregano) is also excellent, if a little light on the prawns. The cheese isn’t overpowering, instead gently lifting the flavour of the prawns to create an interesting dish. The real highlights, however, are the meatballs (homemade, served with tzatziki) and mousakas (their signature dish).

If you prefer vegetable dishes or are veggie then you’re equally well catered for. The Arakas (peas in tomato sauce with dill) and feta cheese may sound a little dull, but both are well prepared and full of flavour. The peas especially are delicate, soft without being mushy and makes for a surprisingly satisfying dish. In all, it’s a very impressive selection of fresh, well put together dishes at bargain prices.

The Drink
The drink also impresses at Roxy Bar and Screen. The cocktails are popular – and understandably so. A list of 10 classics (including the mojito, Bramble, Cosmo and a French martini) and 10 Roxy specials offer a good range to choose from and all of the drinks cost just £5.80. The Chi Chi (Prosecco, a sugar cube soaked in orange bitters and Chambord raspberry liqueur) is especially well priced given it’s a take on the usually costly belini. Slightly sweet with a pleasant, almost bitter orange aftertaste, this is an exceptionally good sparkling cocktail. Also impressive is the white martini (Mozart white chocolate liqueur, Goslings Black Label rum and cardamom), which is a creamy delight that’s almost too easy to drink. Finally, the Roxy cocktail (Wyborowa vodka, raspberries, apple juice and Dubonnet over ice) is also recommended. Sweet but not sickeningly so, it comes with real pieces of raspberries to give the drink some substance and is easy on the tastebuds.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, they also have a good wine selection ranging from £12.80-£40 a bottle (with a few on sale by the glass). If you’re not sure what you fancy then the well described, easy to follow menu makes your choice all the easier. They also have a few bottles of Champagne on offer. If you prefer spirits then they are really well priced at just £3.20 for a house single and mixer, starting from £3.50 for premium spirits.

Also good is their choice of bottled beer and cider. There are 18 bottles to choose from, priced from £3.40, including Kasteel Cru, Cobra and Bombardier. There are also five draught beers available: Stella, Staropramen, Becks, Hoegaarden and Guinness, finishing up the selection nicely.

The Last Word
In hard economic times it’s easy to think that glamour and fun is going to have to be put on hold for a while. Luckily, the style and substance at Roxy Bar and Screen doesn’t come with a whopping price tag. Highly recommended.

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