A sleek, chic hotel bar which serves some good grub, but could do with a little more publicity.

The Venue
The bar to the Great Victoria Hotel looks like a cocktail lounge through and through. Its sleek, monochrome style was made for knocking back Martinis and Cosmopolitans.

Its high white ceiling is decorated, and the warm wood floor is shiny enough to reflect the light that spills through the tall windows which are partially covered with blinds.

In true cocktail-style the bar, which is all black, has a mirror behind it and is covered with shiny steel pumps. It's also lined with tall, steel-legged stools, perfect for perching on and looking decadent.

With cocktail glass in hand, you can swan around R Bar's nicely spaced-out tables and black leather armchairs, which are scattered with dark pink cushions.

Small candles are placed on all the low rectangular tables, and there are some metal tables and chairs on the cute patio outside. The odd thing is that despite all the cocktail-inspired chic, R Bar doesn't serve cocktails. Er, what?

The People
You get legal eagles coming in here in the day and after work, as the hotel is bang opposite the law courts. Otherwise it’s hotel guests and business people having meetings.

You can't help thinking (wishing) that they should just serve a few sexy mixes, and advertise a bit, then they might attract a few more social butterflies who'd be at home flittering about this cute little drinking den.

The Food and Drink
For a place that screams cocktail bar, it’s a shame R Bar has no list. Apparently there’s no demand (seems a bit chicken and egg) although they can make them up on request.

You’ve got Tuborg, Guinness, Carlsberg and Tetleys on draught and there’s Corona, Budweiser, Beck’s, Carlsberg and Black Sheep in bottles.

The wine list is the same as the hotel's restaurant, with about 30 bottles of red and whites, costing anything from £14 upwards a bottle.

R Bar's menu is pretty comprehensive and is a pared-down version of the restaurant menu, which makes a lot of sense, with a few extras thrown in. You can get pitta bread stuffed with roast turkey, bacon and stuffing for £5.95, or a Scottish smoked salmon bagel for £5.50.

A black pudding and confit bacon salad (with slow-roast tomatoes and roast potatoes) is £8.50 or, pushing the boat out a little further, a chargrilled sirloin steak with fat cut chips and tomato and mushroom is £7.95.

You can also get afternoon tea here, or just order a bowl of olives to go with your Martini (if only they served them).

The Last Word
This could be a swinging little hotspot, with a bit more publicity…and some cocktails.

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