http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19679
Another great West End hotel worth paying a trip to is St Martins Lane. This one was famously designed by Philipp Starck and it has a really brilliant restaurant – Asia de Cuba. Its bar, Light Bar, is where all the beautiful people hang out and the basement houses an exclusive private members club (Bungalow 8).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19679 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19677 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19677 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19666 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19666 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19288 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19288 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19269 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19269 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19160 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19160 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18573 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18573 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18090 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18090 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17368
First, you raise your body temperature by a few valuable degrees in the normal, heated Below Zero bar downstairs, which serves creative fresh fruity cocktails such as a scrummy apple and blackberry crumble concoction.

Everyone is allocated a 40 minute time slot so when your time comes they give you space-age silver cloaks, thick gloves and snow boots and you go into the Ice Bar. Inside it's minus five degrees and everything inside is made from clear crystal ice from Sweden – the walls, the bar, the tables and the chunky glasses, which you slurp simple but super-strong vodka cocktails from. Drinking doesn't get more refreshing than this.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17368 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16348 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16348 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13615
Erratic service, especially when the owner/manager is in, mars it. Plus she wears really strong scent.

But I still end up going back there, and when it is good it is very very good.

Afternoon tea with cocktails in the garden of an old power station is certainly unusual.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13615 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13418
The main bar is now non-smoking but there's a space out back for the chokers and in summer they open a huge beer garden.

Best of all is the food. Great varied menu featuring mezes, Thai/Chinese food, burgers, salads and roasts.

There's also a decent range of wines.

It's not that cheap but it's worth it for a treat or just to get a seat.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13418 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13390
The food is satisfying and good value - great tapas including smoky patatas bravas and gorgeous melting sweetcorn fritters. Perfect to share. Mains such as steak won't break the bank, and are delivered to the table quickly even on a Friday night.

The cocktails are no more expensive than other bars but the atmosphere is much more laid-back.

This is not a "see and be seen" bar, more a place you can relax and have fun with friends, lose some inhibitions and cackle wholeheartedly while the attentive staff look after you.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13390 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13048
We went in for an early evening cocktail - all drinks 1/3rd off before 8pm. Cocktails strong but chemical, though the wine list looked okay. To be honest it's just feels like a pleasantly odd place to be drinking - huddled beneath the pavement sitting on leather seats which are shaped like buttocks. Maybe I wouldn't go back, but if you are in the area it's worth a visit.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13048 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12592 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12592 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11553 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11553 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10362