Recently revamped with an ultra glam interior and newly christened with the name of a local historical figure, The Brunel is finding its niche in Battersea.

The Venue
The Brunel sits handsomely on a corner close to Battersea Bridge amidst a trendy cluster of shops and restaurants. Formerly known as the S Bar, the bar’s new name is a tribute to Marc Isambard Brunel, a notable engineer from the early 1800s who built a factory in the local area.

The interior nicely blends traditional touches with modern chic; a wall featuring a collection of vintage photographs and sketches (of the Brunels and their engineering feats) sits within an achingly sleek setting with exposed beams, dark emerald walls and giant decorative mirrors. You can park your derriere on prettily upholstered pews, at the long mahogany booth or at chunky wooden tables and hightops. For film buffs, there are black and white classics like Laurel and Hardy, Casablanca and Hong Kong playing on a framed screen (if sport is more your thing, the other screen shows the football). Two function rooms (the fairylight-covered conservatory and the Kingdom Bar, named after Marc Brunel’s more famous engineer son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel) can be hired out free of charge and are decent party venues.

The Atmosphere
The dark colourscheme is punctuated with angelic touches like a single white rose on each candlelit table, emitting an air of sophistication and romance. Staff are conscientious and the atmosphere in the smallish space is genial and relaxed. Friday is the night with the biggest buzz, when punters from nearby offices and locals converge for after work drinks, but Saturdays and Sunday DJ sessions from 2pm until late draw in larger crowds, keen to take advantage of the late licence.

The Food
The menu is decent, standard gastropub fare at acceptable prices (the homemade soup of the day with crusty bread is a bargain at £3). A starter of goats cheese bruschetta with tomato and red onion marmalade is rich and delicious whilst the mango chutney that comes with a tasty chicken and pork pate gets full marks, being sweetly tangy. Both are a steal at £4-£4.50 for sizeable portions.

The large portions follow through to the mains; order the homemade salmon fishcakes and you get three whopping patties plus chips and salad for just £6.95. The main menu features the usual suspects: rib eye steak, lamb rump, risotto, chicken and pork pie, all reasonably priced from £6.50–£12.95. Don’t be bothered that burgers are strangely absent from the normal menu: Sunday is the special Brunel Burger Day when you’ll have around twelve to choose from.

The Drink
The wine list is small and mostly old world but it’s well priced with some tasty tipples starting from £3.95 for a small glass and £14 a bottle. On tap there’s Amstel, San Miguel, Heineken, Fosters, Guinness and Bulmers with pints priced from £3.30, plus there’s also a selection of bottled beers like Corona and a cocktail menu that covers all the classics.

The Last Word
If you’re not a local resident or worker, The Brunel is a bit out of the way (a bus ride from the closest stations Clapham Junction or Fulham Broadway). However, if you’re in the area it’s definitely a worthy stop-off.

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