70 Leman Street,
London,
E1 8EU
The ViewLondon Review
The Oliver Conquest is a relatively new venture in Aldgate that’s reviving two nineteenth century genialities. It’s named after a famed music hall impresario so the emphasis is upon relaxation and enjoyment. It also has a dedication to serious gin drinking.
The Venue
The Oliver Conquest is close to Aldgate East tube and sits in the heart of a busy business district. Since October 2010 it has been rebranded and reinvented. The name, The Oliver Conquest, honours Benjamin Oliver Conquest, owner of the Garrick Music Hall which stood on the same Leman Street site. Appropriately the music hall had an attached Garrick pub which Benjamin ran too.
The people behind the operation are Matt Davis and Sara Eichler. They are experienced publicans and are beginning to attract customers with efficiency and courtesy. Physically, The Oliver Conquest is now one large ground floor bar. This has a single service point and is comfortably furnished in shades of brown furniture and red wallpaper. Posters of pop performers from the 60s and 70s decorate the walls. There is also an upstairs room, which they intend to convert into a function room.
The Atmosphere
The pub is beginning to develop a core clientele. It is getting busier at lunchtimes and early evenings with office people. There are not many local residents but a good number of them are attracted by the Tuesday night quiz. First Prize is a £20 bar tab.
The Food
There are plans to provide a full menu but, at present, there are bar snacks – including sandwiches, platters, nachos and pork pies. A speciality is a choice of Scotch eggs such as the Hunter (venison and redcurrant), or the Black Watch (black pudding). There’s a veggie option too, which combines chickpea, sundried tomato and cheese.
The Drink
Serious gin drinkers are beating a path to The Oliver Conquest door. There are eight on offer – Bloom, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick’s, Martin Miller’s, Plymouth, Tanqueray, Tanqueray Rangpur and Sipsmith. Bloom is a distinctively herby Genever-style, crafted by Britain’s only female master gin distiller, Joanna Moore. Tanqueray Rangpur is infused by Rangpur limes for an exotic taste, while Sipsmith is highly aromatic and is produced by a Hammersmith micro-distillery – the first in London for 189 years to employ a copper pot vessel.
The wine list features Spanish wines. Most notable are two organic riojas: Vina Ijalba Genoli Blanco and Vina Ijalba Livor Tinto. There’s also the expected range of spirits in addition to gin and three lagers – Beck’s, Peroni and Staropramen.
Two real ales are currently available – Fuller’s London Pride and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. The management’s reasoning is thus: “We’d like to offer more but it’s best to have two in tip-top condition.” Fair enough. As the publican saying goes: “The only way to keep ale is to sell it.”
The Last Word
The Oliver Conquest is a work in progress, but the progress is promising. Pop in to experience it – and try an unusual gin.
The Oliver Conquest has been reviewed by 3 users