Milk and Honey

Appalling. One of the worst places I have been to in London. Twice got double booked at Milk & Honey and sister bar The Player. Terrible service and average prices. There are MUCH better places in London.
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Greg
Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Intrigued by all the mystery surrounding this 'private members club', my friend and I made our way to Poland Street. We had been advised to look for an unmarked black door, resembling a garage...

Luckily, as we spotted it there were some people coming out and we managed to slip inside. We found ourselves in a tiny, red entrance hall with a reception desk on the right. The receptionist asked if we had booked. We hadn't, but as it was a Monday evening and Soho was relatively quiet, they conceded and directed us through a black velvet curtain and into what can only be described as a 40's wartime bistro. The room was divided into leather booths and came complete with tiled walls and jazz from the same era playing softly in the background. It was dimly lit and each booth was furnished with its own candle.

We ordered cocktails from the seasonal cocktail menu and to eat, we thought the Venison with figs and cracked black pepper, crunchy green beans and bread sounded good.

The cocktails were fabulous and good value at £6 a piece, but the food was sadly a bit of a let-down.

The dish we ordered was described as being for 1-2 people on the menu, but in reality it was barely enough for one. What arrived on our table could only be described as a snack, with maybe 12 very small slivers of venison, a small bowl of beans, one chopped fig flavoured with balsamic vinegar and 4 small slices of dry, dark bread.

In spite of our disappointment, we managed to console ourselves with further cocktails, which were once again, superb. Milk & Honey is, after all, a drinking club and not a restaurant.
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Kitsu
Monday, February 09, 2004

Correction to the above statement - you don't need to be a member, you call the mobile number on the website to book in to get in - although you must leave by 11. I called up & booked it the same day with a few very well presented girlfriends. It is a nice enough place albeit cloaked in darkness. The drinks were surprisingly reasonable, and it was great to go somewhere where it was a bit more civilised, you get to the bar. However there wasn't much of an atmosphere and the hostesses were damn rude and if you weren't a member, they treated you like a non member. I've been there, done it, wouldn't do it again...shame the establishment don't stick to their "no wankers" rules for their own staff.
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Monday, February 09, 2004

I have been a member of M&H for 18 months and have never been disappointed by the quality of the drinks, the atmosphere or the service. The drinks are probably the best that I have had in London and given the skill in which they are made, the alcohol content and the quality of the ingredients, I think they represent good value. This is a place with simple rules based on showing some consideration not only to the club itself, but to its guests. If you call in advance to book, or to let them know that you're going to be late or have to cancel, the management will be polite and accommodate your requests. I have become a regular because it is one of the few places in London where you can sit and talk to your friends, without having to raise your voice. It also has a timeless quality- you can't get bored of its comfortable environment and you come back because you know that it will deliver.
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Michael Brock
Thursday, November 27, 2003

I've never been disappointed by Milk and Honey. Whether it's a quick meet up with the girls or a cocktail fuelled birthday bash, I've always come away with a very warm feeling (maybe that was the Cosmopolitan?) The fact that you can reserve seats, get table service, buy great quality cocktails all in a really nice surrounding beats most London bars that I've been to.

The service and quality (where the drinks are concerned) is always excellent, the waiters know their stuff and are adept at making recommendations that really hit the button. I have never ordered the food, but friends who have ordered platters and tasters have done so knowing the portions are snack-like and have not felt let down.
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Friday, November 21, 2003

Great idea for a member's bar. Unfortunately, the superiority complex of the managment (particularly the GM) means members may have to endure some embarrassments in front of their guests.

I joined and quit the same week because of this - manager expanded our reservation - then become verbally unpleasant when the agreed number appeared at the door. We all just left.

A few others have complained about this sort of problem with M&H. My friends who came with me as guests had filled out their member app forms because of the initial reaction to the chilled out bar, but didn't turn them in when they felt the bad vibes from management. Some people just don't want attitude from a members club on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night

But check it out for yourself, you may not mind or notice the management. Food, and concept are OK drinks are artistically on-the-ball and the bar staff is apologetically polite and soft spoken.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2003

A friend of mine took me here one evening as we were looking for somewhere different to have a few drinks after work.

The highest accolade I can give the bar is that the following day i signed up and become a member. Everything about this bar is amazing from the fact that si few people know about it, from the fact its candle-lit, to the relaxed atmosphere and obviously to the fantastic cocktails. 4 burbon sours and I'm extremely tipsy.

I've been a member for about a year now, go once a week and I've never had a problem booking a table and have always found the staff unfailingly polite and helpful. Its the perfect place to unwind, relax, to go with friends and you can actually talk to them as opposed to having to shout over the music and a wonderful place to impress your new lady friend.

I honestly fail to understand how anyone could have a bad evening here.
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Alex
Friday, October 10, 2003

Rather a disappointing evening. I went along as the guest of a member - we had booked a table, but it had actually been given away to soemone else. Went to thew downstairs bar in the hope we could find a space to stand in but ended up stuck by the door at the end of the bar, having to shuffle around everytime someone wanted to go in or out.

The music is nice and chilled but the satff are not oevrly freindly. For my taste the decor is more dark and dingy than hip and ambient. Very little atmosphere and as a members club, it really doesn't seem to offer it's members that much to be honest.

The drinks were okay, but nothing special compared to some of the other bars I have visited in the area. All in all a very below par evening. Milk and Honey is not all it is cracked up to be and I am in no rush to amke a repeat visit.
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Kat
Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Simply the most polite, clean, easy bar in London. The staff are exceedingly accomodating, even to member's request to bring extra guest than the permitted number, even at short notice.

The drinks may take their time to come but they are perfectionists and I doubt you'll find better mixologists anywhere in town.
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BDH
Monday, September 22, 2003

There are so many lovely bars/restaurants in London, and many of these are beautifuly bland and formulaic. Milk and Honey has an ambience, decor and clientele that is genuinely, nicely different.

The staff are non-obtrusive, yet accessible. The whisky sour - straight up (urrrrgh to ice!) is sublime, as are the other various cocktails on offer, thanks to knowledgeable bar staff. The music is ideal for unwinding if you've had a shit week, or ideal for wafting over your sense of wellbeing, if you are feeling like a Master of the Universe. And thank goodness, you need not feel you have to speak to the next beautiful person you come across there. Phew!

The nibbles are pretty, and pricey, but I guess there's got to be a poncy factor in there somewhere, afterall - this is trendy, happening London, right?

It's simple, it's functional, it's got a chill factor of 8 out of 10. Long may it last.
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Abim
Friday, June 20, 2003