Oysters serve as the Marmite of the seafood world; people often divide themselves into the ‘Love’ or ‘Hate’ category and refuse to budge no matter how hard the other side argues. It’s a bold move then for Geronimo Inns to open a new bar restaurant in the heart of The City entitle The Oyster Shed, that is surely set to polarise customers that pop in for a quick snack.
With the expansive space set out on two levels, the bar is abuzz of suited businesspeople of varying ages and the high-octane chatter that typically hums above such groups. Clipping our way through all of the “hedge fund” speak, Blue Tomato heads straight for the upper balcony that overlooks the Thames and gets stuck into the fine array of seafood platters and, of course, the oysters. With a steady flow of Champagne and craft beer on offer, guests’ throats are sufficiently lubricated to sample the controversial crustaceans that rest in buckets around the bar and it seems that some of the ‘haters’ may even be coaxed out of their proverbial shells.
The only grumbles of the night are ones emitting from disgruntled customers having to schlep all the way through the lower bar to get to the bathrooms, which you have to access via a lift, albeit a very prettily decorated one; one too many oysters and this could spell disaster.
Nonetheless, the overall mood of the bar is one of conviviality and considering that it is a ‘City’ bar in the centre of the banking district, launched slap bang in the middle of the recession, one would assume that The Oyster Shed offers the financial world a haven away from the stresses of working in such a pecuniary profession. Whilst the general chatter still seems to focus on all things fiscal, the crowd seems to be celebrating their good fortune as opposed to commiserating over an unsteady climate.
Spread that on your toast, Fred Goodwin.
By David Harfield
Date posted: 05/02/2012
Category: News.
Tags: gastropubs in london, Geronimo Inns, oysters.
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