Weekly Media – Cove Bar – Covent Garden
After spending much of my past week in a drunken muddle, running around in the sinister darkness of night suitably camo’d up and spending only two hours on average a night in slumber, I thought it would only be right that I should invest in some good quality chill time. (And consequently ignoring my impending doom, namely my exams’¦) So pulling out all the stops and immersing myself in my own knowledge of all the twists and turns of London town I decided to visit what was formerly known as my first watering hole in one of London’s most vibrant sections; Covent Garden. So ok, maybe some of you are thinking Covent Garden with all its hustle bustle street art madness is hardly the most chilled out place to go, but on contrary, sitting on the balcony of ‘The Cove’ and watching all the people go past in the sunshine happens to be one of the best things in the world, even more so when accompanied by fine friends and an even better lady.
Firstly, I guess I should probably give you a brief idea of where the bar is. Now I’m sure you’re all familiar with where the market square is in the very heart of Covent Garden, well situated on it’s outer facing circle of shops and directly in front of St Paul’s (Not THE St. Paul’s’¦ it’s the one next to where the Dr. Martens shop used to be’¦) is the West Cornwall Pasty Company yes? Well, to the side of it, is a set of very narrow and twisty stairs, very much hidden by the Pasty shop front which leads to the upstairs bar; there my lovely children, is where the fun and magic happens. Past the altogether friendly and infinitely charming bouncer (No, seriously’¦) you reach the top and you’re immediately confronted with just how intimate the bar is. Full of nooks and crannies its very much the perfect place to be with your significant other, where the dim intimate lighting and the rustic feel takes you away from the otherwise modernized Covent Garden pubs and bars. Sitting in deep, plush sofas and on barrels or wooden stools, the eclectic furniture matches the mish-mash of its location as well as its music. Playing a wide variation from chill-out to funk and jazz with the odd indie rock number or acoustic thrown in, you really get a chance to take it easy and recline with those oh so comfortable deep ‘swallow-you-up’ sofas.
Alternatively, if you want to escape from the occasionally cramped (When it gets busy, it gets busy’¦ one of the few criticism of the place’¦) conditions, then there is nothing better than to take a step through those French doors and sit on the balcony and survey ‘’¦all that is yours, from the sun to the plains’¦’? (Copyright Lion King, Disney’¦ blah blah blah legal stuff’¦) Situated over one of the main performance areas you very often get the chance to listen to some of London’s best buskers and performers all in your throne on the balcony. For all you closet romantics out there, and those cynics amongst us who have the urge to regain their faith in all that is good in the world, you may want to note that the sun sets facing the balcony, where it dips over the buildings and church before reflecting off the Millennium Eye in the distance, casting an altogether heart-warming glow across the entire square. One of those few locations in London where you truly get a sense of being and endearment, the square is cast in this orange glow where even the cobbled streets seem to emanate this fiery warmth in the irreproachable light. Having spent many a summer evening there with a bottle of inexpensive yet crisp and deliciously alluring Sauvignon, there is little doubt that it is entirely possible to fall in love with a place.
Serving a fine selection of wines and specialising in ales and ports, the bar is accessible to all and what is even better perhaps is its affiliation with the West Cornwall Pasty Company, thus allowing you to order any pasty you could ever imagine to exist (May I recommend the steak and Guinness, or the roasted vegetables for vegans’¦) A remarkable place for those intimate first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth’¦ dates it is frequented not jus by those head over heels in love however. It also boasts several large ‘dead men’s chests’ were groups can perch around and chin chin to their heart’s content. You can always guarantee as many groups of friends as you can couples, and although it sometimes gets a little busy, it can only be expected with such a fine bar as this. One criticism is however, is that there is only one male, and one female lavatory which often means that there is nearly always a queue to la pissoir’¦ However, this small criticism is completely displaced by its frankly marvelous atmosphere, and even more impressively by its balcony with its astonishing view of the sunset. In fact, the balcony is even heated all year round to keep it nice and toasty during the winter months making it even more fun to sit outside nice and warm when snowflakes are a-falling around you.
A place of auspicious atmosphere and outstanding va va voom!
Anthony
P.s. If anyone fancies taking me on a date’¦
So… you up for that date?