Live music, good value food and drinks and a relaxed atmosphere make this venue popular among young locals – even Sunday nights are no exception.

The Venue
Located on Goldhawk Road, one of the busiest roads in the run-down centre of Shepherd’s Bush, this trendy little pub-cum-bar is a real treat. Surrounded by chain pubs, restaurants and off-licenses, Vesbar, despite being part of the Fuller’s chain, offers a more individual and modern setting. In keeping with its name, photos and prints of the famous Italian scooter, the Vespa, decorate the walls. The venue offers an array of seating arrangements to suit different occasions. From a relaxed corner at the back of the bar, with colourful cushioned lounges and matching backless footstool-style seats, to high wooden benches with bar stools in the middle and standard dining tables scattered around the outside. There is a small stage at the front of the venue where musicians regularly provide some entertainment, while a small dancefloor attracts a good crowd on a busy night.

The Atmosphere
Unlike most pubs and bars, Sunday afternoons and evenings are guaranteed to be busy at Vesbar, as local young professionals try to put off the fast-approaching Monday morning blues. ‘Jam Night’, as it is known, has developed a strong following, with live musicians pulling people through the doors and on to the dancefloor. Weeknights are generally low-key, with popular indie tunes and friendly staff creating a relaxed vibe.

The Food
Vesbar’s food menu is what you’d expect for this sort of venue, with a decent choice of good value burgers, pizzas and bar snacks taking centre stage. Like a fajita but in a bread roll, the Cajun chicken burger is packed full of spicy and tangy paprika and pepper flavours, with guacamole adding a contrasting cool touch. With golden chips on the side served in a metal bucket, this burger is well worth the £8.50 price tag. Other burger varieties include the Hawaiian, which comes with smoked bacon, egg, tomato, pineapple and beetroot (£8.50) and the chicken and brie, with avocado, melted brie and cranberry sauce (£8.75). The pizzas are rather impressive, with the base rolled and stone-baked on the premises and some of the toppings are rather unconventional. The Spicy Spanish, for instance, comes with chorizo and bacon, and a rather powerful dose of chilli and some sour cream (£8.25). A range of sandwiches, salads and bar snacks, including nachos and sharing platters are also available.

The Drink
French varieties make up the bulk of Vesbar’s limited, average-priced wine list – the house white is fruity and from Griffin Ridge wines in France (£15 per bottle, £3.75 for 175ml, £5 for 250ml), while the medium-bodied pinot noir from Argentina’s Trivento winery is the house red (£14.50 per bottle, £3.65 for 175ml, £5.20 for 500ml). Prices range up to £65 for a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne. The cocktails are a big drawcard for Vesbar, and the selection includes a handful of mojito varieties, which cost two for £7 every Saturday evening. Beers include Peroni.

The Last Word
A popular spot for a relaxed dinner or quiet drink with friends mid-week, but at weekends, live musicians and drink specials help turn the place into a party. Worth checking out if you’re in the area.

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