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Pub Quiz! Which pub is this?"when trying to wash your hands, you're accosted by somebody trying to sell you hand towels and squirt soap into your hands. If I were taking a dump would you barge in and try to wipe my arse or sell me the toilet tissue?" ReviewNot a pub, as the name suggests, so it probably shouldn't be appearing in a pub guide. The reason it's here is to make you appreciate how good your average pub is compared to one of these places (along with its close relative All Bar One) and to encourage you all to visit pubs as frequently as possible before they are all replaced by these identically manufactured, soulless, corporate establishments. These are to the world of pubs what The Backstreet Boys are to the world of music. And how embarrassed would you feel entering one of them? The same should apply here. So what's wrong with Bar 38? It's a bit pricey to say the least, but then they're trying to attracted the poncy high class crowd so that's to be expected. They're not exactly keen on getting the student crowd in so don't expect a quiz or any specials on cheap lager. The bar staff seem more interested in serving cocktails. This is apparent because they spend a lot of their time spinning bottles and glasses like they wanted to be Tom Cruise. Obviously you spend the whole time praying they drop one and your prayers are invariably answered. Big windows are a feature, offering spectacular views of the traffic on Hammersmith Broadway. Nice idea. You get the impression the establishment has been misplaced. If it were down by the river it would offer excellent views. On the side of the Broadway it just makes you feel exposed, the place doesn't feel quite whole and a distinct lack of atmosphere is the result. To avoid this problem you can go downstairs, which at least makes you feel that you have managed to come in off the street. Downstairs we come to the toilets, an interesting feature to say the least. The only place we've been where the toilets don't have doors on. There are a couple of openings in the wall besides which are the projection of lights saying male and female. Providing the lights are shining in the right direction at the right time, you wonder through the opening and find yourself in the toilet for your given gender. Maybe the idea of this is to keep with the exposed, open theme that is running upstairs. A little weird anyway. And then the washing facilities. These are communal, a big fountain outside the entrance to the toilets. A nice idea perhaps, but how long till a pissed bloke gets the wrong idea and just pisses in the fountain? (By the way, if you've already see this happen, we'd love to hear about it). And the final point. The finishing poncy touch to Bar 38. Wicker. Fucking wicker. Now wicker is bad enough when used for practical purposes like chairs and baskets, but here it's employed for decorative purposes. Wicker as art displayed on the walls. Bollocks, is the word that springs to mind. Look, if we want to look at wicker we'll go to a craft fair or a country church, we won't go to a bar. So please, just take the wicker off the walls, put some doors on your toilets and stop being so bloody poncy, you're not impressing anyone. Until that happens, we're going down the pub.   Review by AJS Nearby:Pubs:
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User Comments:
Well it seems to me that whoever wrote your review doesn't have a clue about pubs, bars and especially Bar 38!
So where do i start?
Quote " It is not a pub, as its name suggests ".
Surely Bar38 suggests that it is a bar and NOT a pub, and because of this comment your whole review is out the window as you are viewing it as something it is not, A PUB!!!!! Bar38 is a bar that caters for the business crowd of Hammersmith or the "poncy" crowd as you so crudely put it. There aim is to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere to all the "suits" after a hard day at the office, not to draw in the older all day bitter drinkers or the 18 year old students looking for a cheap piss up. Yes they are a little pricy but no more so than any of the Bars in the city that cater for the same clientel.
Maybe you should have done a little research into Bar38 and their aims and motivations before slagging it off just because YOU don't like it.
There are many traditional pubs in Hammersmith and few Bars, Bar38 is not trying to be something its not, just offering a little variation to those who are open minded enough to give something new a try.
I think that Bar 38 was WAY to pricy and filled with older business men trying to find a cute young bar maid or hooker. Whoever wrote the last comment must have worked for the bar to say such nice things about such a crap place. There are thousand of better bars and pubs just in Hammersmith. In fact, almost any of them!
The way I view a pub or bar is that is should be for everyone, not one cliche of people with there scowling eyes on those who can't or just don't want to wear smart dress. Universal acceptance is what makes a pub friendly and comfortable!
Personal choice is what it's all about, if you like pubs that are cheap and play no music you go to William Morris, if you like pubs that on the weekends fill up with 20+year olds looking for a good time you go to Edwards, if you fancy a pub that serves great food you go to Stonemasons and if you fancy a bar thats full of men in suits then you go to Bar38, simple as that.
I think all this is just a little bit stupid. I drink in various places in Hammersmith generally depending on my mood, Bar38 is just one of them and I defend it as I would any other place that I like!!!!!
interesting to read the comments so far - lolita seems to at least understand the bar industry, Bar 38 is positioned in the market to compete against 6 Continents - All Bar One and the like from other estates, for it's position geographically it will attract the 'suite' crowd...and what's wrong with that.
The only issues I would raise is that in an ever progressing invironmet all bars need to concentrate on their quality of service and product knowledge something most Pubs fail to deliver on - QUALITY OF SERVE IS KEY most estates strive for this but most fail-having said this, Bar 38 could do with educating their staff on the basics of how to serve a basic spirit and mixer.
I actually liked Bar38 but that was because I went there for a work-leaving do a few weeks back. I was pretty gone by the time I stumbled in there and so didn't really notice the general priciness of the drinks and the low-quality staff. But it seemed fine at the time if a little indfifferent to its drinkers. I did like the toilets, though - a great tip is wait at the fountain washing your hands until an attractive women comes out to do the same, smile and say, "This is just like Ally McBeale isn't it?" Works every time............
More important than the "Is it a Pub?" "Is it a Bar?" dilemma, Bar 38 does score consistently well on totty rating for males and females - the manager clearly has a good eye for recruitment!
Drink's OK - plus it demonstrates itself to be non-pub as it serves Vodka and Cranberry. Imagine asking for one of those at the Ram! I wonder how long it would take for you to get your head kicked in by one of the tramps.
Granted this is an opinion - and no better informed (and probably less so) than any other.
Bar 38 hovers at the vile end of unpleasant.
It has no atmosphere. It is so loud I have taken to using a cardboard tube as an aid to shout to the person next to me with whom I am trying to hold a conversation. The tube has two ends so there is no risk of cross-contamination.
It is WAY too expensive even for its limited charms. Why do people encourage them by paying their prices? Beats me. And there are far better pubs a few minutes walk towards the river.
So why do I ever go there? The crowd from a mobile operator where I work have a pathological attraction to the place. They are sad old gits like me who are hoping to get off with the barmaids. They fail, miserably. But they return , ever optimistic.
I'm really suprised at the negative comments for Bar 38. I drink there regulary and find the service and staff efficient and friendly and the prices reasonable for London. If you want cheap and cheerful go the Weatherspoons but if you want quality food and drinks and great service in a nice environment go to Bar 38.