The Wine Tun

Olé-​reliable-​faceless-​but-​fun-​enough afterwork place. That’s a new category I’ve invented to describe the feel of this, and *many* other places like it.
It’s not extraordinary or friendly enough to justify calling it cozy, and it’s not a venue you could visit any time but after work since it’s only open during the ‘City Hours’ M-​F, since people stop existing on the weekend (so businesses think).
With those criticisms aside, it’s actually not so bad when you’re in there with groups; it’s spacious, with a large downstairs area with a bar and a bit of seating, and another area upstairs with a bar and a bit of seating. There’s a sort of stage-​type area for dancing and, as I saw once, karaōke events. Someone else mentioned the prices are high; quite possible, but it’s a City bar.
I came here several times for various networking events, and I can say I had fun, and since I do like to drink wine when I go out and like to have elbow room and a convenient location, I’ll probably be back. That said, it is a City crowd, and I’ll let you interpret that. It’s a reliable place for people to come in and let loose, as it’s not a formal place. As you watch people stagger around on the sidewalk at 11, you know The Wine Tun has succeeded in its purpose.

OK, this is not my usual kind of place to be and to review, but it’s where I was this evening and it’s still a review, dear Bex!
This is a big City wine bar — safe, clean, bright, modern, smart no medieval haunt, no secret wine cellar and deinitely neither chic nor cool. £15.95 upwards for the wine bottles, high-​ish prices for the comptent but boring food menu.
So why was I here, yet again? Because it is the perfect venue for tbe Meetup groups I have participated in there, in particular the excellent Tastour mini-​wine tastings and the highly accessible and popular Drinks and Links business networking evenings. Guys feel comfortable to drink pints of continental lager beer here if they want, girls feel safe to walk in on their own. It is a great open flexible space that comes with a fair price in the circumstances.
It does what it does well, I know, but we’re now finishing the evening off drinking Absinthe at the Ten Bells in Spitalfields as a kind of equally safe but much cooler antidote! Damn, maybe I should review this one too, if I haven’t already

I really like the openness and roomy feel of this place. That may sound like an odd thing to say, but it’s the first thing you notice when you walk in. It’s like you’re in a show room rather than a bar.
It’s a popular post-​work hangout for locals, and it’s easy to see why. Right on Cannon Street and close to other good offerings in the area, it’s a good meeting place.
But you pay a price. Not only for the suit you’re pretty much expected to wear, but the drinks. A tenner really ought to get you two drinks, in my opinion. Not here. And one of those two was cider. It’s not like I ordered two large glasses of their best vino.
Go in, have a nice cold, crisp glass of white while you network and the night is young, while you taste buds are still in full working order. Then leave for somewhere more friendly on the leather in your pocket.

Large wine bar, close to St Paul’s cathedral, which is one of an expanding City-​based chain run by wine merchants Davy’s (who’ve been going since 1870).
The venue is very spacious, with high ceilings and stripped-​down, modern décor. For a wine merchants, the wine list is reasonable but not exceptional, and as you’d expect for a venue combining City and tourist clientele, it’s quite pricey. They also serve draught beer, ales and spirits, and breakfast (8.30−11h) and lunch/​dinner (12−21h). The food which is a sort of posh take on standard pub grub — OK but, again, not exceptional. The same could be said of the service.
What is remarkable is the view of St Paul’s, which is superb — especially as the wraps are finally coming off after its external clean-​up. It also has quite a lot of seating indoors and out, so doesn’t feel crowded, and has good disabled access.
Not somewhere to aim for, but fine for a quick drink and to admire the view, if you’re in the area.