Located in the midst of mammoth publishing houses, The Refinery has a constant supply of punters. Luckily, that’s not led to it resting on its laurels and the quality of what comes out of both the kitchen and bar is impressive.

The Venue
The Refinery is undeniably a very beautiful, well put together venue that benefits from its excellent location by IPC’s Blue Fin building. It is positioned within a great space that has provided the ideal blank canvas for them to build upon – and build upon it they have. The huge space is almost sprawling, lit up by the large glass frontage that offers views of the outdoor seating area. The bar and restaurant aren’t distinct with drinkers and diners sitting wherever they fancy, offering a pleasant relaxed ambience to the L-shaped room.

The decor is unusual in that it encompasses touches that are undeniably industrial in style yet it retains a cosy feeling that is difficult to achieve in such a large space. The long bar gleams and is lit up by regularly set, large bulbs that hang low over the bar. Row upon row of gleaming wine bottles sit neatly behind the bar on cute little shelves and even the silver draught pumps are kept sleek and discreet, giving this the appeal of a style bar only without the pretension. The simple wooden floor and industrial ducts that hang from the high ceilings are counteracted by stylish large black light fittings and smaller cone lamps that hang low over the tables across the room. The seating comprises wooden tables and chairs, high tables and sleek stools, and white plastic seating that looks to have been designed to high specification. This leads through to sofas and cosier booth-type areas for people looking to settle in with a glass of wine for the evening. The boothed area is tucked neatly out of the way within attractive wallpapered alcoves depicting birdcages in a small, secluded area that is more living room than industrial warehouse.

Upstairs a small private dining table resides as do the toilets. The toilets are stylish in themselves, being large and airy with plenty of mirrors. The 'girls room' even has a make-up area where you can sit down and spend some serious time beautifying yourself – ideal if you’ve dashed to the bar straight from the office. The sinks are made of marble and the Molton Brown soap is a welcome touch. The Dyson hand driers finish it off nicely.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at The Refinery, understandably, depends on when you go. It’s busiest in the week, particularly at lunch and after work when local office workers descend upon it in their droves. Whether drinking or dining, the laid back atmosphere and palpable chatter fill the space. The venue benefits from the fact it’s set back off the busy main road in a pedestrian-only area, which means drinkers spill out the doors in the summer months, creating an expansive, thriving outdoor area reminiscent of places like Canary Wharf. There are a few cute outdoor chairs but it’s far more suited to throngs of drinkers standing outside, soaking up the rays alongside their pint.

At the weekend, The Refinery is set far enough away from Borough Market to offer a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the market. A brunch menu brings in locals and those that happen to walk by and is a far quieter, more relaxed affair than in the week. The venue takes on a calming appeal that’s ideal for a relaxed, lazy meal. Whatever time you go, the staff are friendly, professional and efficient, which only adds to your experience.

The Food
Given the area it sits in, you might expect the prices at The Refinery to be on the high side. However, it’s actually pretty reasonable, especially given the portion sizes and quality of the food. The ingredients are sourced locally and are seasonal and organic wherever possible – the ethos of this venue is that quality ingredients speak for themselves. Luckily, this is not reflected in the price.

In the week there’s an emphasis on sharing platters and nibbles for groups of drinkers. Dishes like homemade potato wedges, salads, bruschetta, mussels and squid (£4.50-£5.95) sit alongside larger sharing platters of bread, Neil’s Yard cheeses, antipasti and seafood (£5.95-£24.95). If you’re after something more substantial then there’s a nice range of gourmet sandwiches and burgers (£5.95-£7.25) and mains such as stuffed chicken breast, fish and chips, steak, risotto and spaghetti dishes (£7.50-£13.95).

However, where the venue really shines is with its weekend brunch menu. On offer every Saturday between 10am and closing time, it’s worth filling up here before hitting Borough Market (it’s never a good idea to visit the market on an empty stomach, such is the temptation). There’s a huge selection from boiled eggs with soldiers to a baked 3 egg omelette. Highly recommended is the eggs Benedict with ham, spinach and hollandaise sauce, which appears as two huge eggs atop neatly piled high muffins. The eggs are cooked to perfection, being light with a rich, runny yolk that pours over the dish delightfully. The ham is fresh and doesn’t overpower the flavours of the eggs, although the portion is generous. The spinach provides a fresh flavour that cuts through all the richness and the muffins are cooked so they’re warm but still retain a softness that goes well with the textures of the dish. It’s extremely filling and excellent value for £7.95. If you prefer the dish with salmon then this can be added for £2.75, although this is a little too heavy and overpowers an otherwise well balanced dish.

Particularly excellent is The Refinery Fully Loaded – a full English breakfast complete with your choice of eggs, sweet cured bacon, grilled sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. Arriving as a huge portion, the quality of the ingredients is apparent from the beautiful presentation of the dish alone. The tomatoes are cooked still on the vine so they are just warm and soft, adding a delicate sweetness to the dish. The grilled sausage isn’t at all greasy, and is a large, fat piece of meat that’s perfectly spiced. The bacon has a slightly sweet undertone and isn’t too heavy, also being absent of any greasiness. Two large flat mushrooms are soft and add an earthy flavour to the dish that cuts through the sweetness of the other ingredients. The toast consists of sections of a baguette that are cooked until crisp and drizzled with olive oil for a nice take on the usual accompaniment. In all, it’s a heavy dish that is sure to fill your stomach – almost uncomfortably so.

The Drink
There’s a nice choice of drinks at The Refinery, including a decent selection of draught beer like Carling, Stella, Becks, Guinness and Staropramen for £3.20-£3.60. If you prefer the grape to the grain then there is a great selection of wine by the bottle and glass, ranging in price from £11.95 for a bottle of the house white to £65 for a bottle of Meursault Clos des Pierres Burgundy. Recommended, however, is the Riesling Schloss Lieser for £5.25 a glass (£20.50 a bottle). This is a clean, crisp wine with notes of pear and apple and an almost creamy finish, although it borders on being a little sweet. The best thing about the wine selection is that almost all of the bottles are available by the glass, with an enomatic system being employed for some bottles to preserve the freshness.

If you prefer cocktails then there’s a small selection of classics, priced at £5.95-£7.50. They also offer cocktails to share in pitchers for up to 10 people (£17.50-£18.95) served, charmingly, in teapots complete with teacups. A lovely touch.

Ideal for brunch or if you’re driving are the smoothies. The berry and banana energiser drink (£2.75) comes beautifully presented in a long glass showing off its delightful deep purple colouring with a strawberry as garnish. It tastes fresh and has a sweetness that’s cut through by the banana. It has an almost creamy aftertaste although no ice cream or cream has been added. Healthy and delicious.

The Last Word
If you don’t work near The Refinery then it’s worth making the journey, especially at the weekend when their brunch menu is on offer. An ideal stop-off if you’re heading to Borough Market.

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