The Punch Room at The Edition Hotel, Berners Street, London by friend of BBS, Ann (this was before she jetted to Cambodia & Vietnam reporting on accessibility via her ‘postcards’, click here to view.):
While Fiona raves about the Lobby Bar in The Edition Hotel… I have to put a word in for the Punch Room.
Confusingly, there are 3 bars at The Edition…… (no one told me where we were meeting)…and whilst I have to admit that the Lobby Bar has the glamour and the drama of the Glitterata who come and go, talking of, possibly, Michaelangelo, my vote goes for The Punch Room, behind the Lobby Bar. On a recent visit, finding the Lobby Bar choc-a-bloc with no free tables and a queue for the attentions of the bar staff, I stumbled into an oasis of calm and comfort in the Punch Room. It’s a much smaller, intimate and more clubby space than the rest of the Edition and the house punch and open fire I was met with, made me feel instantly cosseted. The bar staff are great (special mention for Sam) and whilst it doesn’t have the vaulted beauty of the Lobby Bar, if your there to meet friends and enjoy the conversation, rather than people watch and be seen, maybe this would suit you better.
The “carefully curated music from vintage soul, Ragtime, and Doo-wop to Ska and Blues as well as impromptu musical performances” only add to the attraction of this bar.
There’s limited choice of punches, with top marks going to the champagne, gin and lemon sherbet, for 1,2,4 or 8 delivered in a dramatic silver punch bowl and served in chunky glasses, huge chunks of ice and redcurrant garnish. Tastes as good as it looks.
The Punch Room. like the rest of the hotel gets 3 BBS Ticks for Style, access & facilities (the disabled toilet is right next door).