An attractive bar with decent cocktails, it’s unfortunate that the prices of drinks at The Redchurch have crept up.

The Venue
This cocktail bar is located along trendily downtrodden Redchurch Street, just moments away from Brick Lane but out of the melee that ensues along the main strip. Inside, you’ll find a cosy, well put together space. A polished wooden floor, open fireplace, ornate golden mirror, floral wallpaper and even a tiger (let’s hope its fake) skin above the DJ booth keeps it from feeling cold. Red velvet booths line the long narrow space by the entrance, which opens up towards the back to reveal a larger area with more seating.

The only real sticking point is the unisex toilet. Sharing a mirror area with the opposite sex allows for much awkwardness. Ladies, be warned, the sight of a drunken guy stumbling out of a cubicle whilst still zipping up his fly may be too much to stomach. And guys, ever wondered what girls get up to in the loo? They spend hours reapplying make up and brushing their hair, of course, so don’t expect to get close enough to the sinks to wash your hands. These two worlds should never collide.

The Atmosphere
Shoreditch has been accused of becoming increasingly commercial in recent years and The Redchurch does little to dispel this. On Fridays, suits and after work drinkers fill the room and seem almost out of place in the trendy surroundings this bar has worked hard to create. The staff are friendly enough and efficient at making cocktails, which are precisely mixed even when busy. Certainly something to be applauded as weekends can be very busy.

The Drink
There’s a sizeable cocktail list at The Redchurch and the drinks are undeniably good quality thanks to the skills of the bar staff. Their martini, in particular, offers a clean, crisp hit of alcohol with a delicate balance. However, their cocktails have crept up in price since their refurbishment in 2008 and the price of a drink here is now closer to £9-£10. This is expensive, even by the area’s standards. And when there are so many other top quality cocktail bars, even in the pricier central regions of London, offering full cocktail menus priced at the £6.50-£7 mark, it can stick in the throat a little. The beers aren’t cheap, either, priced at around £4 a bottle. Sierra Nevada on tap, however, is a strong selling point for lager lovers.

The Last Word
The Redchurch may look good on the surface but its high prices aren’t justified. A shame.

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