Cantaloupe

I often go to Cantaloupe on a Friday night after work for a few drinks with friends - it has a great atmosphere and people are generally friendly, if you get there early enough you normally get a seat, although this tends to be out the back of the bar. Only disadvantage is its a bit of a trek to the Ladies, especially after a few glasses of wine, but this is not a major dilemma :0)

A good place to have a few in before moving on to Hoxton Square for a bite to eat.
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Friday, February 11, 2005

It was my partner's birthday and we had booked a table for 16 for 7.30pm. Firstly they gave away our table and offerd to split us up on a number of separate tables. They had to move the people who were sat in our place so we could sit down. Our orders came promplty with a smile minus my main course. Asside from the five cold dishes that were served mine arrived incomplete after everyone had finished, I sent it back. The manager gave us two free bottles of champagne and knocked some money off the bill. They dealt with situation well, but I will never go there again it was highly disorganized, and ruined the birthday celebration.
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David Singleton
Sunday, February 06, 2005

Time for an update - I've been a few times here on Saturday and Friday evenings..... I’ve found the place to be completely dead. Not sure why though? Maybe somewhere else has opened nearby? Saying that, it means you can get in and you can get served pretty quickly. Crowd is the usual cool and t-shirt types. Not a place to recommend for pre-clubbing.
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Jas
Thursday, January 27, 2005

I've been going to the Cantaloupe since 1996, and throughout the vicissitudes of the area [Hoxton], this has been the one staple that my friend and myself return to every, single time.

It is a large, spacious bar with 3 separate areas (4, if you count the frosted glass dining area): the entrance where the vast majority of the seats are and the main bar. The atrium with the leather seats and plush sofa's - expect to be sharing these, if lucky enough to bag one, with various new found 'friends' all night. There is also a back area where the diners are also situated, with its own bar and plenty of standing space.

I've always found the staff to be friendly and welcoming, and the bar itself has a bustling, party vibe without being too full on. It's very relaxed, chilled but accessible and friendly. The Cantaloupe has always remained 'attitude free' and is 'girl friendly' i.e. a sleazy male free zone, which is always good when the rest of us males are tarred with the same brush.

Whilst Hoxton itself has lost its soul in the last year or so (forgive me for doing an Andrew Lincoln in Human Traffic), I have always relied on the Cantaloupe. Hope the Saffa women who we met outside Lux, after being told that there was a £3 cover charge (!?), enjoyed themselves in here. It's much more lively on a Friday/Saturday night than on a Sunday before the Bank Holiday.

Regards,

Concerned_Viewer
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Concerned_Viewer - View all reviews by this user
Monday, January 03, 2005

The Cantaloupe is a great bar but it gets soooooooo packed on a friday and saturday.Get there too late and you're likely to be standing in a 'one in - one out' queue, which is a real drag if the people you are meeting are stood outside in the cold while you're inside waiting for them.Friendly crowd though and the food they do isn't too shabby.
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Waldo Pepper
Friday, June 18, 2004