Went to the Lonsdale on Saturday night with another couple for dinner. Great atmosphere and we had a good table at the back of the restaurant section away from the hoardes of people, who later turned up to drink. The food was excellent for a bar type restaurant and a good mix of music later on.
However, our evening was spoilt upon leaving as one of the door staff decided to assault my husband for standing outside with a bottle of beer. When he didn't pass it to the bouncer immediately, this bouncer got my husband in a headlock. Absolutely appalling behaviour and not what you expect from an otherwise great place. I am currently waiting for the manager to call me back regarding the matter, as it's completely unacceptable. I agree with all the other comments on here....nice place but let down by the rude, arrogant and very heavy handed door staff - we will not be going back there.

went to the lonsdale last night, really good fun, bouncers were quite unpleasant, but the actual club/ experience was very good. The decour of the club/resturuant is well done and makes for a really cool looking bar. Drinks were good and overall it was fun night.

I went to the Lonsdale yesterday (tues 14/12) for a charity event organised by a work colleague. A private room on the first floor had been set up with various games, with candles and low lighting. Unfortunately staff at the Lonsdale thought it would be a good idea to put a lit candle on one of the sofas. So as I sat watching my colleagues play Jenga, I felt my back getting slightly hot and smelt burning - my hair was on fire! Luckily my colleagues came to my rescue and no serious damage was done (thank God!) and as this was a charitable event I decided not to make a fuss, but it would have been nice and appropriate when staff found out what had happened (i. E. Question - what's that burning smell?, response - oh (shrug) her hair caught fire) if Management had apologised and made a complimentary gesture of food and/or drinks. So if you do venture to the Lonsdale please be careful of the lit candles placed recklessly on sofas and if anyone from the Lonsdale reads this, candles on sofas not A good idea at all!

I was at the Lonsdale yesterday (tuesday 14/12) a colleague had hired the private room on the first floor for a games night for a charity. The room was dimly lit with candles and low lighting, unfortunately staff at the Lonsdale thought it would be a good idea to place a lit candle on one of the sofas. So as I sat with my colleagues playing Jenga my lower back felt slightly hot and I smelt burning - my hair was on fire! Fortunately my colleagues came to my aid and no serious damage was done. However when it was brought to their attention what had happened it was casually shrugged off - i. E. What's that burning smell? Response - oh (shrug) her hair caught fire. I didn't make a fuss because I didn't want to create a scene at a charitable event, plus more importantly I wasn't burnt to a crisp (thank God!) but it would have been nice and appropriate if Management on hearing what had happened apologised for their staff's serious lack of judgement and breach of health and safety rules and offered a complimentary dinner and/or drinks. So if you do venture the Londsdale please watch out for the candles! And if anyone from the Lonsdale sees this review - lit candles on sofas, where people are sitting with their backs to them not A good idea!

Had a fantastic night at the Lonsdale on Saturday night. We had an area reserved at the front of the bar by the door which was ideal for our group of about 30 (standing, and we did spill out into the main bar but it wasn't a problem). The drinks are fabulous and the waitress looking after us handled all orders brilliantly given how many different people she had to get round (and credit cards to juggle). Drinks came quickly although ordering at the main bar did take a while (but if you're with good friends chatting away it doesn't really matter). The music was spot on and the decor in good order (no sticky floors or chairs!). All in all a great night!

I didn't enjoy my night at the Lonsdale at all. It's understandable that it's across the road from a row of houses, but we were constantly told 'shhhhhhhhhhhh' even when talking in hushed tones. At the end of the night, the (extremely rude and arrogant) bouncer bizarrely followed us to the end of the street and told us his girlfriend was trying to sleep in one of the houses? Never, ever going back there again.

We went there for a friends birthday on saturday. We'd reserved an area for 25 and they gave us a table with enough room for 10 squashed at the back. It was a nightmare to get served at the bar, at one point two people were serving and four were polishing glasses in front of me. They had squashed far too many people into the place as well, at one point it took me 5 minutes to cross the bar area to get to the toilets as there were too many people to get through.
The door staff were incredibly rude outside, I understand it was a residential area but being cinstantly "shhhed" and sternly told "this is not a fun zone, this is not a social area, no talking, smoke and leave" made me want to literally, smoke and leave the bar.
Anyway, drinks were nice, when I could get one, and the food looked nice for those who were able to sit down and order food. But I wont be back due to the overcrowding and the rude door staff.

I live in Powis sq, so Lonsdale is my local. It's a great little place where it's fun to hang out as it's usually very busy, decent coctails, cozy interior, however there's one thing that REALLY puts me off big time - and that is door bouncers.

They are extremely rude, unpleasant, arrogant and treat everyone with great disrespect.

Went on a Wednesday night a couple of weeks back and they had table magic...Have always been a little sceptical of magic but actually this was really fun, and very impressive. I think I'm addicted. On a side note the food was very yummy, I especially loved the tuna tataki. The drinks were delicious as ever. Wednesday looks like the new Thursday to me!

fab venue - great drinks - they know what they are doing behind the bar here for sure! The food is excellent - I would highly recommend.

The Lonsdale is an interesting mix - seems to pack a nice friendly Notting Hill crowd though didn't see that much excitement in the place - might be a one night thing. Music feels a little outdated, didn't do much for me but seems to work for the crowd. The bar is unbearably slow and the bar people look tired and unmotivated. Overall worth a look, especially if you're local to the area.

I went to The Lonsdale for the first time on Thursday evening for dinner and drinks. The only word to describe my evening is fabulous. I heard reports of the food not being all it claims to be. How people come away with this view I have no idea.


Not only that but the drinks and service were first class too. I have returned since and will definitely be paying a few more visits to The Lonsdale. I highly recommend it to anyone.

I think one of my companions I went with summed up The Lonsdale pretty well...'A fashion show with beverages'...seems reasonably accurate, although maybe a little harsh. The drinks were reasonably good, but outdated and the venue itself looks very, very old and tired.



The Lonsdale used to be an incredible venue, and a market leader, but it almost looks like they've run out of ideas...

The Lonsdale is a seriously cool bar tucked away in a back street in Notting Hill. It has a very cosy vibe and is something of a local classic.

Many people don't know that there is a really great restaurant in the back of the bar which used to not be up to much but in the last year has really stepped up its game and serves some fantastic food at reasonable prices.

The Lonsdale is a great place to go on a date - definitely try out the Rose Petal Martini!

Whilst the Lonsdale can come across as annoyingly pretentious you have to blame the clientele and not the bar itself - which is an excellent, well-stocked and brilliantly tended affair. I'd recommend it to anyone.