A bar that lights up your night for all the wrong reasons.

The Venue
Fitzrovia regulars may remember with fondness The Pint Pot, a small pub on Tottenham Court Road that was great for a cheap pint and a bite to eat. However, that place has now disappeared and in its place sits The Bar @ TCR, a hybrid between an attempt at a swanky bar and a traditional pub.

The venue has a central location smack bang in the middle of Tottenham Court Road and is near to many of the media offices in the area. However, despite its key location it hasn’t managed to establish itself as one of the popular drinking holes in the area, and doesn’t seem to have found it’s niche yet. The décor comprises of a garish white exterior with a few tables and chairs outside. Inside the layout is surprisingly large, with a bar running down one side, and a mishmash of tables and chairs. There is a decked smoking area at the back, however to get to this you have to squeeze past some of the tables – perhaps a review of the layout could be an idea.

The Atmosphere
The Bar @ TCR attracts mainly people who work in the surrounding area and non-regulars who happen to walk past and fancy a pint. It doesn’t have that homely welcoming feel of a local, but with minimal housing nearby, it’s probably not aiming for that market anyway. Most of the punters are aged 18-30, and the atmosphere is usually loud and buzzing, especially on Friday nights. Watch out for a shockingly bright selection of disco lights which the staff sometimes turn on around 8pm. It makes you wish you’d brought your sunglasses with you.

The Food
A varied selection of food is on offer here. On one side of the menu is a selection of pizzas, with favourites such as ham and mushroom pizza or calzone Fiorentina (spinach, eggs and olives) costing £6.95. Turn over the menu and you can find a selection of pub favourites such as homemade beef burger with French fries and salad (£6.95), whilst a tuna Nicoise salad will set you back £7.95. For those after a smaller bite you can get bar snacks such as beer battered onion rings for £3.25.

The Drink
The Bar @ TCR offers a satisfactory yet uninspiring range of drinks. The best value for money deal here is their £4 cocktail of the week, of which you get a choice of three. Beers on draught include Fosters, Strongbow, Kronenbourg and Becks Vier, all priced around the £3.40 a pint mark.

The Last Word
This isn’t the place to bring that special someone on a date, nor is it the kind of pub that your mum and dad will enjoy. But it is okay for a quick after work pint. Just bring your shades if you’re allergic to bright lights.

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