The Loop is a dark basement club, restaurant and bar that doesn’t suffer with the same nasty environment as its nearby competition. For a cheap and cheerful night out with decent food and cocktails, this is as good a choice as you’ll get in the West End.

The Venue
Set just off busy Bond Street, The Loop is a popular West End venue, favoured by the local office workers, with a large tourist contingent at the weekend. Located on the corner of Hanover Square, the large glass front and covered smoking area is hard to miss. As you enter, the first bar is best suited for the daytime lunch menu and midday pints thanks to the neutral decor and slick bartenders creating a laid back atmosphere.

As you walk downstairs, the basement opens up into the late night club. Various seating is available and is particularly well hidden for first time lovers looking to disappear. The dark basement and hidden lights create a fun atmosphere.

Deeper into the venue, past the club area is the restaurant, which can become quite an enjoyable experience, watching the party people of London have their fun. Neutral walls and hanging mirrors make your eating experience more relaxing than you’d expect from dining in a club.

The Atmosphere
As with most West End bars, the atmosphere at The Loop can become a bit loud and rowdy as the suited city workers become overexcited with the cheap drinks on offer, but this is the nature of the business. The general clientele are local office workers looking for a few drinks to wind into the weekend with more tourists attending on a Saturday night. It’s been accused of being a bit of a meat market – which is often the case with clubs and bars of the area – but go with a group of mates out to have fun and this fades into the background.

The Food
A wide selection of food is on offer at The Loop, including traditional English grub such as fish and chip and a few Thai dishes. Starters cost around £4 and are good value for money. Take your choice from dishes such as fresh soup or Thai king prawns, which unlike other venues are served at a decent size.

For the mains (£8-£14), the fish and chips is served on a plate, wrapped in newspaper with a wooden fork. This may sound ridiculous, but the emphasis is on a unique, fun eating experience and it works well. The fajitas are served sizzling on a hot plate with a side dish of wraps ready to be made. The overall dining experience is very enjoyable and with a late night club as part of the experience it saves having to brave the bad weather to continue your night.

The Drink
You’ll find all the usual bottled beers on offer in the main club, but your best bet is to have a few beers and move on to the cocktails as there is a wide selection of classic and contemporary drinks to suit all tastes. Take your choice from the fruity Mai Tai or classic margarita and for those looking to have no memory of the night, try the Jaeger B shooter made from Red Bull and Jaegermeister. There are various deals on offer during the Happy Hour such as £3.95 cocktails and £2.50 beers. You can also take your pick from a large wine list - try the Petit Chablis Prieure, which is fresh and easy to drink with pleasing notes of fruit.

The Last Word
The Loop is a decent choice for a West End club. Expect the usual downsides of venues in the area but delivered with more style than most. It’s worth making a trip at lunchtime to take advantage of the great deals on food and drink or book a table for a cheap night of eating, drinking and dancing.

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