Shoreditch is on fire right now - the heart of the trendsetting and rule breaking section of the Capital is leading the way with original nights out. The Crowne Plaza London - Shoreditch is ideally located amongst the action, but does its own Saints Bar live up to promise?

The Venue
Ideally located on Shoreditch High Street, close to the famous landmark of Shoreditch House, sits the Crowne Plaza hotel. Unlike many of the eclectic venues nearby, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a hotel. A rather grand front entrance and modern interior state that you’re in the popular hotel chain. Saints Bar is located on the ground floor, close to the lobby. It’s a pretty simple affair: lots of lounge seating, a central, gleaming bar, and a few low tables to relax over. It’s clean, it’s pleasant, and the large windows at the front make it airy. It won’t win any awards for originality, but it’s not trying to be anything other than a decent hotel bar.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Saints Bar is one of calm. Even on a Friday night, the madcap capers of Shoreditch remain firmly outside the hotel. Hotel guests pop in here for a cocktail or beer before hitting the town, or relax after a long journey. It’s not really a destination in itself, and with so many highly acclaimed bars nearby, it suffers from the level of competition. But it’s certainly not devoid of life and has an uplifted if demure vibe. People come here to chill out, and it’s relaxing and pleasant. The staff are friendly and professional and not as stuffy as at many hotels. They’re happy for a bit of banter and help to lift the feeling of the bar. All in all, it’s a decent place to come to chill out.

The Drink
Not a groundbreaking menu by any means, there’s a decent, if small, selection of cocktails on offer at Saints Bar. Of particular note is the Grasshopper - a creamy favourite across many bars, this is particularly well made and served in a martini glass. Well presented, it’s a light, creamy green colour and tastes divine. Green creme de menthe, white creme de cacao and light cream are well balanced and makes for a good version of the classic. The Champagne cocktails are also particularly good, with a nice range of belinis to choose from that are well made and reasonably priced. With all cocktails coming in well under a tenner, it makes for a good quality place to come to enjoy reasonable cocktails.

The Last Word
Saints Bar is a decent hotel bar that, whilst not necessarily a destination in its own right, is worth a visit if you’re a guest at the hotel or in the area and not up for the usual madcap bars and clubs of Shoreditch.

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